Book Review for “Clean House, Clean Planet”

We weren’t totally happy with our conventional cleaning products – many were “stinky” as our daughter succinctly put it and they sure cost a lot – but we didn’t give the subject much thought at first. Then we read that the Environmental Protection Agency ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health, in large part due to the chemicals found in traditional cleaning products, and finding greener alternatives moved to the top of our to do list.

I was fortunate to find Karen Logan’s book Clean House Clean Planet: Clean Your House for Pennies a Day, the Safe, Nontoxic Way. This informative book, written by a mom, makes navigating green cleaning options very easy.

Recipes for making green cleaning products are laid out in an easy-to-follow manner, with each given an effectiveness rating. The author even includes information on equipment, such as spray bottles and funnels, so it is easy to make sure you have everything you need. We’ve tried several of the recipes so far and have been impressed with them all.

One of the best unexpected side effects is that our children can play a larger role in cleaning. Before we would shoo them out of the bathroom or laundry room to keep them away from the fumes, but now they can help with everything. And no more stinky smells!

For more information on the affects of household cleaners, check out the American Lung Association’s Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet for Household Products. Also see the EPA’s informative booklet The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. It is fairly long but contains lots of helpful links.

If you want to neutralize the environmental impact of your book purchase, visit Eco-Libris.

To locate an independently owned bookstore near you, visit IndieBound’s Indie Bookstore Finder.

You may also want to check SwapTree, an online trading site for books, cds, dvds, and video games.

Related posts:

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2. Greening Your Home, Frugally Many people associate going green with expensive purchases scattered throughout...

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